The Swedish Academy introduced in Stockholm on Thursday that it has awarded the Nobel Prize in literature to the Hungarian author Laszlo Krasznahorkai, “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, within the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the facility of artwork.”
The 71-year-old Hungarian creator has lengthy been thought of a robust contender for the prize. He’s the second Hungarian to obtain the honour, following Imre Kertesz in 2002. Hungary additionally celebrated two Nobel laureates two years in the past: Katalin Kariko was recognised for her groundbreaking improvements in drugs, and Ferenc Krausz was honoured in physics.
Krasznahorkai is a famend Hungarian creator who has spent a lot of his life touring the world. At 18, he left his hometown of Gyula in Hungary and has since lived in Germany, France, the USA and Asia – experiences which have deeply influenced his work.
A number of of his novels have been tailored into movies by the acclaimed director Bela Tarr. He has additionally obtained quite a lot of awards, together with the Booker Prize, and his works have been translated into a number of languages.
“I’m very blissful! I’m calm and really nervous on the identical time,” Krasznahorkai informed Swedish public radio on Thursday after the announcement. “You already know, that is the primary day of my life after I’ve gained a Nobel Prize.”
In response to a query about why he selected his specific career, he gave a characteristically private reply: “At first, I simply needed to put in writing a e book, however I didn’t wish to turn into a author. Then, after I found that the textual content wasn’t solely good, I began one other one. As a result of I needed to right Sátántangó. My complete life has been about corrections.”
Together with his signature model – wearing black and with wild hair and beard – he has lengthy been a critic of the federal government of Viktor Orban, accusing the management and even Hungarian society of shifting in direction of Russia and away from its Western dwelling, whereas wallowing in historic grievances just like the 1920 Treaty of Trianon peace settlement that stripped the nation of two-thirds of its territory and half of its inhabitants. At first of the 12 months, pro-government pundits lashed out in opposition to Krasznahorkai after he made important feedback about his dwelling nation to a Swedish outlet.
Nonetheless, Hungarian politicians throughout the political spectrum praised Krasznahorkai’s achievement, seeing it as a triumph for your entire nation, which takes pleasure in its distinctive language, though valuable few learn trendy Hungarian literature as of late.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban posted on Fb: “The pleasure of Hungary, the primary Nobel Prize winner from Gyula, Laszlo Krasznahorkai. Congratulations!”
Opposition politician Peter Magyar supplied a political perspective, noting that “one of the best novels of Hungary’s newest Nobel laureate depict the forgotten rural world and other people oppressed by energy.”
Comic Tibor Bodocs congratulated Krasznahorkai by quoting from his e book Addig se iszik (At Least He’s Not Consuming): “As the folks saying from Gyula goes: you look horrible, don’t even begin a Krasznahorkai sentence! His longest sentence lasts eight complete weeks, measuring seven metres and sixteen centimetres – a real sporting achievement.”
